Attorney: Mansion raid was a big to-do about nothing

BATON ROUGE- A federal magistrate judge blasted federal prosecutors Thursday over a multi-state synthetic drug investigation which stretched to China and resulted in the arrest of a local businessman.

Tim Tran is accused of smuggling illegal substances from China in the making of synthetic marijuana.

Magistrate Judge Stephen Riedlinger said in court the government's case lacked sufficient evidence. Also, the substances used in the making of synthetic marijuana that led to Tran's indictment were legal in Louisiana at the time they were ordered. Riedlinger then issued a $10,000 bond for Tran.

Before that, family members testified. Tran keeled over in his seat and broke down into tears when he saw them. His family members testified that he was a great family man, and took care of all of his relatives.

This week, WBRZ was there as federal agents raided Tran's mansion and warehouse. Agents left with boxes of evidence, bags of cash and a Ferrari.

Judge Riedlinger ruled that Tran was not a flight risk set his bond. Part of the conditions include strict supervision and GPS monitoring.

"They will have a hard time seizing his home, cars. They made a big stink, big to-do about it. Turns out, it kind of fell flat," Tran's attorney, Lance Unglesby said.